Umbrella.



H. J. RAABE.

UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, 1914.

Patented 1311.11, 1916.

rinrrnp s'rarns radian rrrbn.

HERMAN JULIUS RAABE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed May 14, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN J. RAABE, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough ofManhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is aspecification accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in umbrellas and has foritsprimary object to provide improved means for preventing the umbrellafrom turning inside out. The constructions which have heretofore beendevised for accomplishing this object have usually been heavy andcumbersome and have been built into the framework of the umbrella at thetime of manufacture.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an attachmentwhich may be secured upon any umbrella as desired and adjusted insuitable position. This attachment which forms a part of my invention,comprises primarily a reinforcing rod or strut, which is provided withsuitable fastening devices and clamps which may be adjustably andremovably attached to the umbrella frame, without in any way alteringthe original construction of the umbrella.

To these ends the invention consists of the improved means and devicesshown in their preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a transverse sectional view of an umbrella opened with theattachments secured to the frame; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of aportion of the frame and one attachment; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailperspective view showing the diflferent portions of one of the fasteningdevices adapted to be secured to the umbrella stretchers; Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail perspective view showing the diiferent portions of oneof the clamps adapted to be secured to the umbrella ribs, and Fig. 5 isan enlarged transverse sectional view taken through one of the clamps onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the stick of any suitableumbrella having a handle B, the ribs C and the stretchers D as usuallyconstructed over which the material E is stretched.

In order to prevent the umbrella from turning inside out as in a windstorm, for instance, the rods or struts F are provided adapted to bepivotally secured at one end to the stretchers D and slidably secured atthe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, 1915).

Serial N 0. 838,436.

other end to the ribs C at points between the outer ends G of the ribs,and the points H atbwhich the stretchers D are attached to the r1 s.

In order to enable the rods or struts F to be removably and adjustablyattached to the umbrella frame, as described, 'I provide adjustablefastening devices for one end of the rods, as shown in Fig. 3 in detail.Since the umbrella frame comprising the ribs and stretchers is usuallyconstructed of U- shaped metal pieces, I provide a U-shaped fasteningdevice J, having the ears or lugs K for pivotally attaching one end ofthe rod F thereto. This device J is adapted to be inserted in astretcher D, and I have found that a wedge shaped piece L having theheel O and the toe P forms a convenient member for securing the device Jin the stretcher D. This wedge shaped piece L may also be provided withthe transverse grooves Q and R in which the split rings S and T areadapted to be seatec. In assembling the parts J and L, the heel O of thewedge L is placed in the bottom of the member J, then the ring S isslipped into position, and by pressing down the toe P into the device J,the other ring T may he slipped into position. The final position of theparts is shown in Fig. 2 in detail. It is to be understood that thepoint or toe P of the wedge should face outwardly as shown in Figs. 1and 2, so that the strain always tends to force the wedge more tightlyinto position. The other end of the rod or strut F is slidably connectedto the rib C, and in Fig. i the details of this slidable sleeve areshown. One member of the sleeve comprises preferably a sheet of metalhaving a longitudinal groove a and the ears or lugs Z) to which the rodor strut F is pivotally connected. The remaining portions 0 of themember are bent into the form of clamps, as shown, having the inturnededges 1). The grooved portion a is adapted to lie in the groove of therib C and the portions 0 cmbrace the rib. The completing portion of theslidable clamp comprises a U-shapcd or trough-shaped member 0 having thelongitudinal flanges f which extend at the ends 1 beyond the bodyportion of the member 6. The member 6 slides into and interlocks withthe main portion of the clamp, as shown in the drawings, and especiallyin Fig. 5, so that the flanges f are engaged by the inturned edges d,and the ends 9 of the flanges may be parts of the clamp together. Asuitable stop is preferably provided on the rib G between the slidableclamp and the point H of attachment of the stretcher D to the rib forthe purpose of limiting the inward sliding movement of the clamp. 'lhisstop preferably consists of a wedge similar to the wedge L shown in Fig.8, which is held in position in the groove of the rib C by means ofsplit rings S and T similar to the split rings S and T. 7

According to this improved construction, the reinforcing rods or strutsF may be manufactured and sold with the fastening devices and clampspivotally connected to the ends thereof by any suitable means, and

these rods or struts so manufactured may be readily applied withoutdifficulty to an ordinary umbrella and thus provide el'licient means forinsuring that the umbrella willnot be turned inside out in a storm.

The whole construction is simple and light and cheap to manufacture. Thefastening devices and clamps and wedges may be made of light material,so that.they are not unsightly, but in fact are hardly noticeable whenattached to the umbrella. I have found the attachments to operateefliciently Copies of this patent may be obtained for and Well and thedevice has proved exceed- I ingly satisfactory in actual use.

I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent the following:

'As a new and improved article of manufacture, a safety attachmentadapted to be applied to an umbrella for preventing the umbrella fromturning inside out, comprising a reinforcing rod or strut, a devicepivotally connected to one end of said rod, means for adjustablyfastening said device toa stretcher of the umbrella, a clamp pivotallyconnected to the other end of said rod, and adapted to be placed overthe umbrella rib, a member adapted to embrace the umbrella rib and slidealong the rib into interlocking engagement with said clamp for slidablysecuring the clamp on a rib of the umbrella, and a stop adapted to beremovi; ably and adjustably secured upon the rib of the umbrella forlimiting the sliding movement of the clamp in an inward direction. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftWo subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN JULIUS RAABE. Witnesses:

A. G. PARHAM, K. G. Ln Am).

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. C.

